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hoping to ?get it payable in cotton.? Samuel seemed certain of the impending sale, ?we will be able to sell this place without any trouble I think there are good many that are anxious to purchase the shell ?bank? (Mar&O'may^want to footnotFhere^to relate to the shelj midden at Mulatto \
Bayou in partikujar^and to the'suBj&etof the use of such sTfellsJxLRave the streets_of N.O,)	\
(Text for^uCh-fcotjiQte already-exist; see b&low^ under ?H?) Pa?s price is ten thousand dollars, cash.? This refers to the shell midden on Mulatto Bayou, most likely the Jackson Landing site. It is known that over the years, much of the midden was used to build roads in Louisiana.)
December 1860: South Carolina votes to secede.
Samuel^as usual, did not express doubt of his father?s judgment, but commented that others urged caution. ?Pa and I went over to the City on last Friday expecting to start up to the Ark. River & other places but on arriving in the City & hearing the election news & finding so much excitement found it necessary one of us should return... So I returned and left Pa in Ne.O.
Mr. Nelson, Mr. Woodlief & others advised him not to purchase at present.? [Samuel Jackson to Sarah Jackson Clifton Plantation November 13th, I860],
One week later, Samuel advised his sister of their status. ?We went over to New Orleans two or three days after the election but found Lincoln was elected and so much excitement we thought it prudent for me to return. I left Pa in N.O. not knowing what he would do, but we are compelled to leave this place and seek one where we can make a living, it is impossible to stay here another year...I hope he may success in Ark. I would prefer having a cotton farm, for I don?t think we would be able to pay for a place in town but by buying a cotton place, we would be able to make the payments and purchase the Hermitage...The Russ place or rather Sea Song looks beautiful it is surrounded by an entirely new fence. I hope Pa will be able to sell it to our advantage I think he will have no trouble in selling this place, the shell bank will make it sell.?
[Letter reference], (Mar^o: how about a<{ootnote here givihg^Uie archaelologjcal significance ^	^	s^)
of the shell bank. Perhapslh^Wailes reportab^ry end of this se^tiqn could be ihcluded.)
In a postscript written perhaps several days later, Samuel said that his father had arrived ?J unexpectedly? ? he has been up onn <sic> the bayou (illegible) in the upper portion of Louisiana and says it is the finest country undoubtedly in the world and there is a place for sale containing 800 acres, I expect he will buy it.?
On November 25th, Samuel communicated his excitement to his mother regarding the prospects of the farm on Bayou Macon, near Delhi, Louisiana. ?This place is offered at $35 per
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